Friends and family members sat idly by asher father maintained control of her choices and her finances.

But not everyone left her to fend for herself; she found an unlikely ally.

Spears and Gibson first connected in the early 2000s and helped each other through tough times.

Mel Gibson smiling

Why Gibson reached out to Spears

When appearing on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

at the time, Gibson opened up about why he reached out to the pop start.

“I just felt like this poor kid, she’s lining up to be stoned.

Britney Spears smiling at event

The press was going at her and everything.